Interview with Colombian Weightlifter Wilmer Torres

If you’re not sure who Wilmer “Wil” Torres is, he’s a 94k Colombia weightlifter that has been on the international stage since 2006. He’s a great weightlifter and even better person. Wil has an incredible passion for this sport as seen here with his 200kg clean and jerk:

Unfortunately, Wil hurt his knee and has been battling to overcome this nagging injury. However, he recently had surgery about 3 months ago and is making a very impressive transition back to form, as seen here:

Wilmer Torres Interview

The interview is both on the video and also transcribed below. Once you’re done make sure to scroll down to see the bonus we have for you guys too! 🙂

Fusion Weightlifting (FW): What age did you get started in weightlifting and how were you introduced?

Wilmer: Well I started when I was 16 years old because of a friend from high school.

FW: How has your training for your pulls, squats, and the lifts (snatch/Clean and jerks) changed as you’ve developed from a beginner, intermediate, to elite weightlifter?

Wilmer: Well the training are varied, the training for a good squad, pull, snatch, clean and jerk consists in the discipline and the technique that I applied for each exercise and I improve this every day that I have to do the training my coach give me.

FW: What is your current training routine like? How often do you train a week, a day, and what do you focus on?

Wilmer: I train 2 times a day 11 trainings in the week and I focus more in the snatch and clean and jerk technique because they are my weakness in this moment and I always focus on having a good technique so I can do the lifts easily.

FW: You’ve gotten to travel all around the world to compete with some of the best in the sport, is there anything you’ve learned throughout your time watching the other countries compete?

Wilmer: Yes, I have had the opportunity to travel around world and meet a very good lifters and what I learned is the perseverance, is the desire to continue training to keep moving forward in this sport.

FW: I’m sure there have been many coaches that have helped develop you through your career. How has each coach developed you into the weightlifter are you are today?

Wilmer: Well each coach has contributed their bit, I have gone through three coaches, first Deiban Valencia, then Jaiber Manjarrez and now Oswaldo Pinilla, and I have learned a lot of thing from each one that have helped me grow as a good athlete.

FW: You’ve battled long and hard to overcome your patella injury, what kept you mentally strong to keep fighting for your return to the platform?

Wilmer: Yes I have had a long battled with my patella injury but now thanks god I overcome that incident, I got my surgery, now I am feeling better and feeling very excited to lift the kilos that I was lifting before and increase my total I feel like superman again.

FW: You’re one of the most humble athlete’s I’ve ever met. When you came to workout with us, you wanted to learn, despite all the success you’ve had in this sport. Is this something your coaches’ taught you or from your family?

Wilmer: Yes, I have always like to learn from others, and it helps me to grow as an athlete and as a person of integrity.

FW: What is one thing you’ve learned in your career that you can pass on to other aspiring weightlifters?

Wilmer: What I have learned in my weightlifting career is to be humble, be patient, be tolerant and to respect the effort of others.

FW: To wrap up, is there anything you’d like to say to the audience?

Wilmer: What I want to say to the audience is that they have to train, listen to your coaches, do your best at training try not to miss any lift and if you have any pain go to the doctor that everything is going to be ok.

Bonus

As a bonus, Wil’s coach in Colombia gave us the go ahead to show a little piece of his weightlifting program.

Click to enlarge

Translated

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday Am

Friday PM

Saturday

Clean and Jerk

Power Snatch

Muscle snatch

Snatch

Jerk from rack

Hang snatch above the knee

Clean and Push Press

Clean and Press

Clean and Jerk

Snatch above the knee

Overhead Press

Back Squat

Front squat

Clean Pull

Snatch Pull above the knee

Snatch Pulls

Click to enlarge pic

Translated

Monday AM

Monday PM

Tuesday Am

Tuesday PM

Wednesday

Clean + Push Press

Snatch

Clean and Jerk

Snatch

Clean + Push Press

Snatch Above the knee

Power clean + Push Press

Power Snatch

Jerk from Rack

Snatch above the knee

Front Squat

Back Squat

Back Squat

Snatch Pulls

Back Squat

Snatch Pulls

Clean Pulls

Snatch Pulls

Snatch Pulls

Next week we’ll hopefully have Luis Javier Mosquera interview posted so make sure to keep an eye out for that or sign up for our news letter to get it directly to your email.

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About Fusion Weightlifting

Fusion Weightlifting is USA-W sanctioned club based in Manhattan (NYC). We’re a relatively new club, established in 2012, and are here to help spread the love of Olympic Weightlifting to others, post about our training, daily thoughts, and hopefully to educate others on how we Coach the lifts and athletes in training. Read More…